MUNISING - Violet "Vi" Baij, age 80, of 309 E. Onota Street, died on Saturday, September 23, 2006, at the Tendercare Health Center in Munising following a one year illness. She was born on July 8, 1926 in Cheboygan, Michigan to the late Charles and Marion (Rose) McLaughlin. Vi married Harold G Baij August 1, 1959; he preceded her in death July 10, 2005. Vi graduated from Cheboygan County High School, she attended college an obtained a teaching certificate, teaching at several old country schools. She later returned to Northern Michigan University and graduated with a BA degree in the early '50s. She taught in Dearborn Heights several years before moving to Munising in 1959. She substituted in the Munising School District until 1965, and then she started full time until 1985 when she retired with 42 years in education. Vi and Harold escaped the snow of fifteen U.P. winters in Tucson, Arizona. They enjoyed traveling and visited every state except Alaska. It seemed everywhere they traveled they?d retrieve a new bumper sticker, bring it home and place on their (infamous) Chevy pickup. She loved her cottage on Joe's Lake, and spent many summers feeding the critters around the lake. Vi talked about stories of her family Sailors working the Great Lakes, they would sit around a 'pot belly stove' and listen to tales of the Great Lakes. Vi was a member of Eden Lutheran Church, she and Harold were 'unofficially' the project photographers when Eden was being constructed.

She is survived by their son Paul (Kathy) Baij of Munising; their daughter Christine "Tina" Gardner of Phoenix, AZ; four grandchildren Jason Bonneville, Zach, Molly, and Anna Baij; two great-granddaughters; brothers & sisters Howard McLaughlin, Helen Simpson, John McLaughlin, Melvin McLaughlin, Sandra Phillips, Sharon Pattillo, Charlene (Henry) Roher. Besides her parents and husband, Vi was also preceded in death by a son Mark Charles Baij in 1962.

Friends may call at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Wednesday evening from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. Rev. Dr. Lynn Hubbard will conduct Vi's funeral service at the Eden Lutheran Church on Thursday, September 28, at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery, Munising.